Apparatus for wrapping with flexible heat sealable material



June 23, 1970 P. J. FELLNER 3,515,223

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING WITH FLEXIBLE HEAT SEALABLE MATERIAL Filed Feb.26, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvm'ron P. J. FELLNER June 23, 1970 P. J.FELLNER 3,516,228

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING WITH FLEXIBLE HEAT SEALABLE MATERIAL Filed Feb.26, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /?J. FELLNER L K 11 4'). s)

June 23, 1970 P. J. FELLNER 3,516,228

APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING WITH FLEXIBLE HEAT SEALABLE MATERIAL Filed Feb.26, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ../0 2f] I. I, I

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LL- Q57 I z (/04 /0 T I t-f' y s 1 I H62 9 INVENTOR P 1 FELL/VER AIYQRNEY Patented June 23, 1970 3,516,228 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING WITHFLEXIBLE HEAT SEALABLE MATERIAL Phillip J. Fellner, Racine, Wis.,assignor to Sturtevant Industries, Inc., Sturtevant, Wis-, a corporationof Wisconsin Filed Feb. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 708,226 Int. Cl. B65b 67/08US. Cl. 53-390 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus including aheated support pedestal for and method of wrapping an article to permitthe soft, flexible Wrapping material to be pulled tightly and completelyaround all sides of the article and also underneath the article so as toband it with the material with the sides of the band extending laterallyoutwardly at opposite sides, then the bottom of the band is sealedtightly at the bottom thereof, and the sides then tucked smoothly andtightly across the bottom and the folded sides heat sealed across thebottom of the completed package, all with one general sweeping motion ina matter of a few seconds.

Brief description of the invention The invention relates to and providesan aid for and method of manual packaging of an article or filledreceptacle with soft, flexible, thermoplastic material by drawing thematerial from a roll and completely overwrapping the article, placingthe article on a pedestal and substantially simultaneously cutting thepartially Wrapped article free from the remainder of the rolled materialby means of an advantageously positioned hot wire, and alsosimultaneously sealing the bottom of the band of material across thebottom, and then stretching and pulling the outwardly extending ends ofthe wrapping material tightly downwardly over the edges of the articleand under it to completely and tightly wrap the article regardless ofits shape. The wrapping process is all done without the necessity of atany time releasing or losing hold of the wrapping material.

The introduction of soft or Pliofilm material into the food wrappingindustry has resulted in a number of ob jectionable features in the useof such material. It has been found that due to its ready adherence toany surface, and particularly to itself, it must be supplied in rollsrather than cut sheets as previously supplied. When wrapping by hand, itmust be used as it is unrolled from the roll in order to eliminatehandling problems. Wrapping equipment has been developed which enablesan operator to pull out a predetermined length of paper, overwrap andunderwrap the article by moving it toward the perator and automaticallycutting the sheet of material as it is moved toward the operator. Theoutwardly extending edges of the wrapping material are tucked under byhand and the package placed on a hot plate to seal the bottom of thepackage. The outwardly extending ends may be pulled across the bottom ofthe package if the operator holds the package in his hand and folds oneend at a time. Such prior art apparatus is shown generally in the US.Pat. No. 3,176,443, which issued on Apr. 6, 1965, to William Klamp, andover which the present invention is an improvement.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement over thesubject matter of the US. Pat. No. 3,358,- 420, issued Dec. 19, 196 7,to Fellner et al. The present invention provides for sealing the bottomof the band of wrapping material before the laterally extending sides ofthe partially formed package have been pulled toward one another underthe article to complete the wrap. As

a result of the present invention, a much tighter and more smoothlyfinished package is provided.

Summary of the invention Generally, the invention provides improvedapparatus for and method of wrapping an article in soft, Pliofilm, heatsealable material which are very fast and simple in operation andtightly and completely wraps the article of varying configurations, andwhich permits the quick and easy wrapping of the material against thebottom of the package, assuring a positive heat seal across the bottomedges and before the entire bottom is subsequently heat sealed.

With the present invention, there is no possibility of the partiallywrapped package becoming loose before the final wrapping operation andfinal heat seal. Also no bunching of the wrapping material on the bottomof the package occurs, and a smooth and fiat bottom of the finishedpackage is assured and one having a good seal.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theapparatus made in accordance with the present invention, the view beingtaken from the operators side, certain parts shown as being broken away;

FIGS. 2 to 7 are fragmentary, perspective views, taken from the sideopposite to that shown in FIG. 1, and showing the series of steps inwrapping an article in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side, elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the secondsupport shown in FIG. 1, certain parts shown in section or broken awayfor clarity;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the partially wrapped article after thefirst heat seal across the bottom has been made on the wrapper bandformed at that stage in the wrapping process.

Preferred embodiment of the invention The wrapping apparatus provided bythe present invention includes a frame F supported on the floor or otherconvenient surface, which frame has an upper end, which may include atable top T, located at a height convenient to the opeartor. A number ofrolls R (only one shown) of soft Pliofilm material M may be rotatablysupported on the lower portion of the frame whereby a particular type orwidth of roll may be selected for drawing material therefrom. Thematerial M is drawn up by its free end 1 through the laterally extendingpassage 2 in the upper end of the frame. The article, which may be in atray 3, is then wrapped by the operator and placed on the heatedconveyor 4 located adjacent the apparatus whereby the conveyor acts toheat seal the bottom of the completed package.

For convenience of description, the side of the apparatus toward theoperator will be referred to as the rear side, while that remote fromhim, the front side. The other two opposite sides may be characterizedas the lateral sides.

The articles to be wrapped are fed to the apparatus by an endlessconveyor or other means (not shown), and in wrapping operations of thischaracter, extreme speed of wrapping is important. With the presentinvention, an article can be wrapped in an extremely simple, fast andeasy manner.

Referring more specifically to the wrapping apparatus, a first support 5is provided adjacent the upper end of the frame and is of a width lessthan that of the article A so that when the article A is placed thereon,the lateral sides A1 and A2 of the article extend laterally beyond thewidth 3 of the first support. The support is shown as a plate memberwhich is inclined at an angle which extends upwardly in a direction awayfrom the operator. The support is thus elevated or positioned to provideclearance beneath the article, when resting on the support, to enablethe operators finger to easily move under the article.

Prior to commencing the wrapping operation, the wrapping material, whichis very adhesive to itself or anything it comes in contact with, extendsupwardly through the passage 2 and has its free end 1 resting on the topof the table adjacent the operator whose hands Only are shown. This isthe position the edge assumed after the termination of the previouswrapping operation.

To commence the wrapping operation, the operator would insert hisfingers into the passage 2 at either side of the material M (FIG. 1),then grasp the material adjacent its free leading edge 1 and lift itupwardly (FIG. 2) a sufiicient distance so that when he then moves thefree end of the wrapping material over the article (FIG. 3), it issufiiciently long to extend completely around the front edge of thearticle which is located remote from the operator.

In FIG. 3 it will be noted the material is being rolled around the frontedge of the package by the operators fingers so that the wrappingmaterial completely and smoothly covers the entire length of the forwardedge of the article (FIG. 4) and the operators hands are then locatedone on each side of the article, still firmly grasping the wrappingmaterial and pulling it laterally tautly over the article. The tensionof the wrapping material from the roll R has been such that the operatorhas also tightly stretched the material over the article in the generalsweeping motion away from himself and then back underneath the forwardedge of the article. Because of the fact that the article A extendslaterally to each side of the support 5 and has clearance underneath,the operator can, with one smooth sweeping motion, completely overwrapthe material and locate the leading edge 1 of the material under thearticle A without bunching of the wrapping material.

The operator then moves the article toward himself and, as shown in FIG.5, has placed it on a second support located adjacent the rear oroperators side of the apparatus. It will be noted that the support 10 isformed as a pedestal and is also of a width considerably less than thearticle to be wrapped so that the article, now in the partially wrappedform, extends laterally over either side of the second support. Thesecond support 10 is also elevated sufficiently so that adequateclearance is provided thereunder for the operators hands as willpresently appear. When in the position shown in FIG. 5, the operatormoves his hands laterally outward from one another, tautly stretchingthe wrapping material laterally over both the top and bottom of thearticle and it will be noted that in this position, the wrappingmaterial is smooth, and evenly and tautly drawn across the entirearticle.

In accordance with the present invention, the pedestal is heated so asto be able to perform a heat sealing function. This heating isacomplished by a heating means 11 located beneath and attached securelyto the second support. The means 11 is a heating element in the form ofa disc, for example made by Chromalox, and which is heated by means ofthe electrical wires 12 from a 110 volt electrical source (not shown). Athermostat 14 is provided for the heating element, which thermostat hasa control 14a extending downwardly from the support 10, whereby thecontrol 1411 is out of the way, yet readily available for setting themaximum heat to be used on the support.

The support 10 includes a bracket 10a which is secured to the rear ofthe frame of the apparatus by bolt means 10b. Thus the heating elementmeans 11 and thermostat are enclosed in the support.

Thus, as the operator places the partially wrapped package on the secondsupport 10, the band of wrapping material, which is formed around thearticle at that time, is sealed across its bottom as at 19. By providingsuch a seal at this stage of the wrapping process, that is while thelateral sides of the wrapping material are being pulled outwardly inopposite directions, the wrapping material will not become loose duringthe subsequent wrapping pro cedure, now to be described.

It should be noted that all of the motion of the operator to this pointhas been in one continuous sweeping or looping motion of his hands. Thematerial around the article has also been severed from its roll as willnow appear.

The material is severed from its supply roll R immediately after theoperator has stretched the material laterally outwardly and across thebottom of the article, and as the partially completed package is beingset down on the second support.

The heat severing means 14 is conventional and includes the hot wire 15which is electrically energized in the conventional manner and issecured by appropriate insulators 16. This wire is located above therearwardly and downwardly inclined surface 17 of the table top and asthe partially completed package is set on the pedestal, the materialcomes into contact with the wire, immediately severing it. This forms anew leading edge 1a (FIG. 7) of the material which is ready for the nextwrapping operation.

After the severing operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the operator thencommences to immediately push his hands downwardly below the level ofthe article, and, with a continuous sweeping movement, brings his handstowards one another beneath the article, and then rises it (FIG. 7).This is possible due to the clearance provided under the article at eachside thereof and the relative dimensions of the support and article.

The operator has thus lifted the ackage off the support and his hands atthis time (FIG. 7) are still moving toward one another and pressing orsmoothing the lateral ends of the material tightly and firmly againstthe bottom of the package P. Simultaneously the operators hands aremoving toward the conveyor 4 on which it is placed for heat sealing ofthe entire bottom of the package.

In addition to the angled platelike support 5 shown in the figures, anysuitable means may be installed on the top of the frame for holding thepackage in the elevated position and providing the necessary clearanceunder each lateral side of the package. For example, the support 5 maytake the form of a simple bar which is adjustably inserted in a seriesof holes in the table top. Thus, the bar may be adjusted to accommodatepackages of various sizes or shapes.

Referring again to the support 10 (FIG. 8), it will be noted that aclearance 20 is provided between the top of the bracket 10a and theupper, inverted tray shaped por tion of the support. This clearanceinsulates the hot upper portion 100 from its bracket 10a and the rest ofthe apparatus other than the connecting bolt means 10d by which theupper portion 10c is connected to the bracket 10a.

Recapitulation The wrapping apparatus and method provided by the presentinvention permits supporting the article with its lateral sides free,drawing the material over the article and then under its front edgethereby tautly overwrapping the article, lifting the overwrapped articleand moving it so as to underwrap it and simultaneously pulling thematerial in laterally opposite directions thereby stretching it tautlaterally over both the bottom and top of the article, again supportingsaid partially wrapped article with its lateral ends free andsubstantially simultaneously urging that material (which extends awayfrom the operator) from the partially wrapped article against a heatedsevering means, pulling the free lateral ends of the material outwardly,and substantially simultaneously causing the band of wrapping materialto be heat sealed on the support 10. The sides are then pulleddownwardly around the lateral sides of the article and under thearticle,

smoothly pressing those ends along the bottom of the package so formed,and then heat sealing the bottom.

All of the above motions are continuous and very rapid and the operatorat all times has definite and positive control of the wrapping material,it being unnecessary to shift the weight of the package from one hand tothe other in order to tightly wrap the material in a band, heat seal theband and then completely wrap the sides downwardly and under thearticle. This is possible even during that final portion of the wrappingmethod movement where the lateral ends of the material are broughtunderneath the partially formed and partially sealed package andsmoothed along its under side.

After the package is completely wrapped, it is placed on the hotconveyor where the heat of the belt will seal the ends of the materialto the bottom of the package. If a heat shrinkable material is used, aheat tunnel may be placed on the end of the conveyor to shrink thematerial if required.

The heated pedestal support provided by the present invention can alsobe used to apply the final seal, especially in Wrapping articles ofirregular shape. The irregularly shaped, wrapped article can berepeatedly lightly touched at its various surfaces against the heatedpedestal, thus sealing it at various spots on its irregular surface.

The invention finds particular utility when wrapping film is used whichis not as soft and flexible as other types. In that instance, thepre-sealing of the banded article is particularly advantageous beforethe final side tuck and sealing operations.

I claim:

1. Hand wrapping apparatus for wrapping an article with flexible andthermoplastic wrapping material, said apparatus comprising, a framehaving an upper end located at a height convenient for an operatorstanding at a rear side thereof; a first support adjacent said upper endand at a front side thereof which is opposite to that rear side at whichsaid operator stands, said first support adapted to support an articlewhile being overwrapped, a

heated second support adjacent said upper end of said frame and locatedadjacent the rear side thereof, a heated severing device extendinglaterally across said upper end of said frame and located between saidsupports for severing said wrapping material on contact therewith, andmeans located between said first support and said severing means forpresenting a leading edge of wrapping material whereby said leading edgeof wrapping material may be pulled by said operator upwardly and overthe article on said first support thereby overwrapping the article, saidsevering means adapted to sever material moved thereagainst after theoverwrapped article is underwrapped by being moved over said severingmeans towards said second support to form a wrapping band around thearticle, said second support comprising a bracket secured to said frameand an inverted tray-shaped upper portion held in spaced relation tosaid bracket, and heating means attached inside of said upper portionfor heat sealing the bottom of said wrapping band when the bandedarticle is supported thereon, a settable thermostat in said upperportion and having'a control means protruding from the bottom of saidsecond support, said second support being of a lateral width less thanthat of the article and mounted to provide clearance under the laterallyopposite sides of an article resting thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,987,864 6/1961 Miller 53-3903,176,443 4/1965 Klamp 5339O 3,358,420 12/1967 Fellner et al -1--- 533903,367,589 2/1968 Chant et al.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R. 53219

